Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-21
NEW CITY LAWS,
FORMULATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL con-
NlfTgE on ORDINANCES
Ths Subjects Of Fire Escapes and tn
Eligibility Of Members 70 Hold Mani
eyal 0fiees Considered.

The Council Committee on Ordinances
held an important, though brief, session
last evening. Three topics of general in
terest were up, they being the resolution
offered in the First Branch by Mr.. Dob
bins, requiring the committee to draft an
ordinance making it obligatory upon the
owners of certain buildings to erect fire es-
capes, the resolution offered by Mr.. Buck
man, requiring the submission of an ordi-
nance making members Of Council ineligi-
BILE to any Office under the city govern
ment, and the resolution by Mr.. Del
brugge, enquiring where the Board Of Pub
lie Works got the authority to grant
permission to railroads OF others to lay
down tracks upon the streets or alleys OF
the city.
Regarding this latter enquiry the Com
mittee agreed to report that after making
due search of the city ordinances, charter,
etc, il had been unable TO find any war
rant for the exercise of this authority by
the Board.
In compliance with Mr.. Buckman's res
olution, an ordinance was blocked out, de
claring that q member of Council was in
eligible to any Office within the gift OF
Council. This ordinance will render it
impossible for the political party having a
majority in Council, To pick out such
small rewards as the City Solicitorship,
etc. and distribute them around where
they would do the most good. The meas
ure is a good one, and should promptly
pass both Branches
The ordinance in relation to fire escapes,
likewise adopted, is modelled upon the law
in force in the city Of Chicago. 1t pro-
vides that ''all buildings, except such as
are for private residences exclusively, in
the city of Wheeling, Of three or more
stories in height, shall be provided with
one or more metallic ladders, or metallic
fire escapes extending from the first story
TO the upper stories Of such building, and
above the roof and on the outer walls
thereof, in such locations and numbers,
and of such material and construction as
the Board Of Police and Fire Commission
ers or a majority Of them may from time
TO time determine. After such determine
ton shall have been.made as aforesaid, the
said Board may at any time, by notice
in writing served upon the owner, lessee
or occupant of any such building, by leav-
ing with such owner, lessee or occupant,
or at his or their residence or place
of business, a copy Of such notice,
require such owners, lessees or occupants,
or either of them, to cause such metallic
ladder or fire escape to he placed upon
such building within thirty days after the
service of such notice; provided, however,
that all such buildings more than two
stories in height, used for manufacturing
purposes, shall have one metallic ladder
for every twenty-five persons, or less, en-
ployed shove the second story"
For failure to comply with the above a
fine Of not less than so, and not more
than 500 may be imposed, with further
fine of $50 for each week Of such neglect.
This ordinance will probably be amend
ed in some particulars, but.will undoubted-
~ be adopted, as there seems TO be a feel
ing that something of the kind is necessary
here